Numbers 5:7

7 and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged.

Numbers 5:7 in Other Translations

KJV
7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.
ESV
7 he shall confess his sin that he has committed.And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
NLT
7 They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.
MSG
7 and must confess the sin. Full compensation plus twenty percent must be made to whoever was wronged.
CSB
7 The person is to confess the sin he has committed. He is to pay full compensation, add a fifth of its value to it, and give [it] to the individual he has wronged.

Numbers 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:7

Then they shall confess their sin which they have done
The form of which confession, according to Fagius, was, O Lord, I am guilty of death, I have deserved to be stoned for this sin, or to be strangled for this trespass, or to be burnt for this crime

and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and
add unto it the fifth [part] thereof;
paying the whole of whatsoever he had in any manner defrauded his neighbour of, to which he was to add a fifth part of that; that is, as Aben Ezra interprets it, it he confesses of himself, but if there are witnesses of it he must add two fifths, and some say a fifth of a fifth:

and give [it] unto [him] against whom he hath trespassed;
as a satisfaction for the injury done him.

Numbers 5:7 In-Context

5 The LORD said to Moses,
6 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD is guilty
7 and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged.
8 But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer.
9 All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 26:40; Joshua 7:19; S Luke 19:8
  • 2. S Leviticus 5:16; Leviticus 6:5
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.